Curtain stretcher and drier



Sept. 25, 1934. Q Q UECKE 1,974,748

' CURTAIN STRETCHER ANDDRIER Filed Sept. 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Shea?l l wie? / I 'lNvENToR OTTO C LUE'CHE AT ORNEYS Se'pt. 25, 1934. 0, C LUECKE 1,974,748

CURTAIN STRETCHER AND DRIER Filed Sept. 17, 1932 2 Shee'S-Sheet .2

INVENTOR OTTO C L UECKE Aww, f/y, 5 @m Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT omer;

Application september 17, 193,2,V sei-iai No. esattel 10 Claims.

Myinvention relates to a stretching and drying frame for curtains or blankets and is particularly adapted for use in stretching curtains of the criss-cross type and double or extra long blankets or curtains for drying purposes, the frame being of the type usable in conjunction with a tunnel-like or other drying. compartment.

The objects of my invention are to provide a stretching and drying frame to which criss-cross curtains and double or extra long blankets and curtains can be easily attached to stretch them over their entirety while drying; to provide a means, in this instance, a removable rod that may be threaded through the hem of a criss-cross curtain, for properly centering a criss-cross curtain on the drying frame; to provide a means for holding the ruiile at the hem of a criss-cross curtain in the desired stretched position during drying; to provide a double-sided stretching and drying frame connected at one edge and having pro-per corner bends; to provide detachable corner bend card cloth holders to provide means for facilitating adjustment of the horizontally disposed stretching means for stretching a curtain or blanket in a verticat direction; and to provide a simple, efficient and durable stretching frame to be used for drying purposes.

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seenfin the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a curtain and blanket stretcher and drier constructed in accordance with my invention, the device being shown broken along vertical lines and being understood to have its greatest dimension horizontally; Fig. 2 is an end viewof the stretcher and drier shown in Fig.` 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the stretcher and' drier shown in Fig. 1; Fig. .4 isa sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

1n the drawings, the curtain and blanket stretching and drying frame is shownas being rectangular inshape and arranged to stand upright or generally in a vertical plane upon rollers 1 secured to brackets 2 and 3 and located one at each bottom corner ofthe frame. This arrangement permits the frame, which has its greatest dimension horizontally, to be readily moved into and out `of a tunnel-like drying chamber and without utilizingunnecessary space inthe chamber. The frame itself consists of'a lower rail 4 and an upper rail 5 of relatively wide channel shape,

(Cl. i5-24) and a `front endupright rail 6' and a' rear end'y uprightrail 7 of relatively narrow channel shape, the flanges of each of the four channels extending toward each other and serving as guide rails for horizontally and vertically disposed bars to which the curtains or blankets are attached for stretching and drying purposes. Suitable bracing for the frame is provided which includes tubular centrally disposed crossed arms 8, one arm connected to each of the top, bottom, front and back 65, rails respectively.

As shown, there are four horizontally disposed individually adjustable bars 9, two on each side vof the frame, and two vertically disposed bars `10, one` on each side of the frame. The horizontal bars 9 are adjustable upwardly and downwardly cnV the vertically disposed rails 6 and '7 while the vertically disposed bars 10 are adjustable forwardly and backwardly on the horizontal top and bottom rails 5 and 4. To always retain both 75 ends of the bars 8 and the bars 9 in their proper positions and to maintain the bars in a horizontal and a vertical line respectively while individually adjusting the bars to their various positions, each bar is provided with a rotatable shaft 11 extending its entire length and with small gear wheelsV 12, one gear wheel being secured to each end of the shaft 1l. Rack members 13are mounted on the upper and lower rails 4 and 5 and the front and back rails 6 and 7 and the gear wheels 12 constantly mesh with cooperating racks whereby vwhen one end of a bar is moved the other end of a bar moves the same distance.

Y In Fig. 5it will be noted that the outside width dimensions of the vertical edge channels 45 and 7 are considerably narrower than the horizontal top and bottomchannels 4 and 5, wherebyV the verticallydisposed bars 10 are free to slide for- 'tion and` is well known and is illustrated, for eX- 4ample, in the patent to Schramm 1,770,553, July 15, 1930, to which reference may be had for .a more 4complete illustration and description, if desired.

The device thus far described provides a frame that is applicable to use with blankets or straight curtains of' any size, it being understood that the device is two-sided. That is, when employed to stretch small size pieces for drying purposes, two pieces can be stretched and dried at a time, one on either side of the frame, and when employed for large size pieces, both sides of the frame may be used to stretch the one large piece, the center portion of the piece being looped or hung over rounded sheet metal corner bends 15 provided on the upper channel 5 for the purpose of guiding the piece around the upper end of the frame if dej-Y sired. However, as will be hereinafter described, the blanket or curtain may be stretched around the rear edge of the frame in a horizontal U-bend with its edges attached to the bars 9 and 10. It will be noted that, as is customary, one edge of each of the bars 9 and 10, and each side of the vertical channel 7 is provided with card cloth 1'6 to which the edges of the piece to be stretched are secured in the usual manner.

When a curtain or blanket is stretched around the rear edge of the frame in a horizontal U-bend, considerable effort is required on the part of the operator to raise and lower the horizontally disposed bars 9 due to their weight, or their weight plus the weight of a piece of goods attached thereto and it is also inconvenient due to the stooping position an operator must assume. Therefore, to eliminate such eort and inconvenience, suitable counterweights 17 are provided for the lowermost horizontally disposed bars 9, the counterchannel 5 from the counterweight 17 to the lowermcst bars 9 at a point preferably near the center thereof,

The counterweights 17 just described are disposed in a pair of tubes '20 which serve to conceal the counterweights and also to guide them in their up and down travel due to raising and lowering of the lowermostV horizontal bars 9. These tubes 20 are rigidly secured to the bracket 2 at their bottoms and to a bracket 21 at their tops in such position that the outward side of each tube is in a vertical plane slightly outside the plane of the card cloth 16 on the outer sides of the rear vertical channel 7. -Being so posi'- tioned, if a long piece of material is wrapped y about the drying frame with its center around the tubes 20 instead of over the top of the frame and its two free ends are attached tothe card cloth 16 on the vertical bars 10, the piece of material, when pulled taut, will not come in contact with the card cloth 16 on the rear vertical channel 7 Thus, the tubes 20 serve the double duty of providing corner bends for a piece of material wrapped about the rearward edge o'f the frame as well as a guide and enclosure for the counterweights 17.

As a means for pulling the piece of material taut after it has been wrapped around the rear-v ward edge of the frame or, if a small piece, it has one edge attached to the card cloth on the rear vertical channel 7 and its opposite edge to one of the vertical bars 10, a mechanical means for moving the bars 10 away from the vertical channel 7 has been provided which consists of a pulley 22, a crank handle 23 for rotating the pulley, and `a cord or cable 24 attached to the vertical bar 10 and wound about the pulley 22,

sition, a piece vci suitable card "cloth-251s secured to a bracket 26 mounted at the upper end of the rear vertical channel 7 and between the tubes 20 to have the surface of the card cloth slightly outside the plane of the rear surfaces of the tubes, the upper edge of the piece of material being secured to this card cloth to thereby hold the central portion oi the article being stretched about the frame in proper position. A similar piece of card cloth 27 is secured to a bracket 28 mounted near the bottom of the rear vertical channel 7 similarly to the card cloth 25, the piece of material wrapped about the rearward edge of the frame being attached thereto to hold the central portion of the piece of material downwardly in its proper position. In stretching a piece of material from one side to the other about the frame and around the back edge thereof for drying purposes, the upper and lower edges of the material 'are not secured to the horizontal bars 9 by means of the card cloth thereon until after the ends of the material are secured to the vertical bars 10 by means of the card cloth thereon, the bars 10 then being moved to the proper position to stretch the piece of material to the desired extent horizontally and then the upper and lower edges of the material are attached to the card cloth on the horizontal bars 9 and such bars adjusted to stretch the material to the desired extent vertically.

The device, while being adapted for use in stretching ordinary curtains and blankets as hereinbefore described, is also arranged and constructed for use in stretching what is known as criss-cross curtains wherein two curtains are sewed together at one end in an offset position. It will be noted that the horizontal bars 9 are individually adjustable which will permit them to be disposed at any desired level so that they may be adapted to stretching curtains of the same width throughout or whose edges are parallel or those that diier in width or whose edges center this hem at the rearward edge of the frame, a removable round vertically 'and centrally disposed rod 29 is mounted a short distance rearwardly of the rear vertical channel 7 whereby it may be threaded through the hem of the crisscross curtain to maintain such hem at the rear of the frame. This rod 29 is made removable by having its upper end projecting through a perorat'ion in the bracket 21 and by having its lower end 'seat loosely ina 'socket provided in the bracket 2. Further, the rod 'is to the rear of the tubes '20 and, when Va curtain is mounted on the rod and attached to the horizontal and vertical bars 9 and 10 in stretched position, the curtain is vheld away from the card cloth pieces 25 and 27. Therefore to provide' a meansl for holding the top and bottom edges of th'e curtain in proper position, suitable extensions 30, see Figs. 3 and 4, are removably secured to the ends of the horizontal bars 9 by means of thumb screws 31, the

extensions being curved with the convex side out- .l

ward to avoid contact with the vertical channel 7 and the tubes 20 and the convex portion of the extensions being provided with vcard cloth 32 so that the top and bottom edges of the curtains maybe attached thereto. With this construction,

every edg'eof a `criss-cross curtain may be attached to card cloth and held in a stretched condition for drying.

Criss-cross curtains are sometimes provided with fringe or ruiiie at the hem and to enable this fringe or ruiiie to beheld in stretched condition during the drying process, a removable bar 33 is provided approximately centrally of the tubes 2Q and to the rearof the rod 29. This bar 33 is provided with card cloth 34 throughout its length and is made removable by having two axially extending. pins 35 as a support for the bar, these pins fitting loosely into cooperating holes in the upper bracket 2l and the lower bracket 2 and the clearance between the upper end of the bar 33 and the bracket 21 being sufficient to permit the lower pins to be lifted out of their cooperating holes whereby the bar may be tilted slightly and removed from between the brackets. Suitable coiled expanding springs 36 are preferably provided between the upper end of the bar 33 and the bracket 21 to prevent accidental displacement of the bar.

In the use of the frame for stretching curtains of the criss-cross type, the rod 29 is iirst removed and threaded through the hem of the curtain. Then, the ends of the curtain are drawn along the sides of the frame and attached to the card cloth on the horizontal and vertical adjustable bars and the top and bottom curtain holding means in the usual manner. tain is provided with a fringe or ruiiie, such fringe or ruille may be attached tothe bar 33 in the well known manner.

Referring to the drawings and the preceding description, it will be apparent that I have provided a curtain and blanket frame whereon curtains or blankets may be stretched for drying purposes embodying numerous advantageous features which, among other things, include means for making individual adjustments on the frame to accommodate blankets or curtains of any size. Likewise, the frame is particularly adapted to the stretching of curtains of the criss-cross type and means have been provided whereby each and every edge of a criss-cross curtain may be properly attached to the frame and the curtain' right frame, individually adjustable material engaging means on each side of said frame, and' means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center said hem at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof.

2. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined together at their adjacent ends by a hem, comprising a two-sided generally rectangular up- Y right frame, individually adjustable material enj gaging means an each side of `said frame, means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center said hem at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof, and removable material engaging means for the upper and lower edges of said curtains adjacent said hem.

3. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined 'together at their adjacent ends by a hem, comprising a two-sided generally rectangular upright frame, individually adjustable material en- Of course, in the event the curgaging means on' each side of said frame including a horizontally adjustable vertically extending bar and a pair of vertically adjustable horizontally disposed bars, and means including a removable rod for threading through said hemrto center it at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof. A

4. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined together at their adjacent ends by a hem, comprising `a two-sided generally rectangular upright frame, individually adjustable material engaging means on each-side of said frame including a horizontally adjustable vertically extending bar and a pair of vertically adjustable horizontally disposed bars, means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center it at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof, and removable material engaging means for the upper and lower edges of said curtains adjacent said hein.

5. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined together at their adjacentends by a hem, comprising a two-sided generally rectangular upright frame, individually adjustable material engaging means on each side of said frame including ,a horizontally adjustable vertically extending bar and a pair of vertically adjustable horizontally disposed bars, means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center it at one edge of said frame and, centrally between the opposite sides thereof, and removable material engaging means carried by said vertically adjustable horizontally disposed bars for engaging the upper and lower edges of said curtains adjacent said hem.

6. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined together at their adjacent ends by a hem having a fringe or ruiiie adjacent thereto, comprising a two-sided generally rectangular upright frame, individually adjustable material engaging means on each side of said frame, means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center it at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof, and material engaging means adjacent said rod for engaging and maintaining said fringe or ruie in stretched position.

7. Stretching apparatus for double curtains joined together at their adjacent ends by a hem having a fringe or ruiiie adjacent thereto, comprising a two-sided generally rectangular upright frame, individually adjustable material engaging means on each side of said frame, means including a removable rod for threading through said hem to center it at one edge of said frame and centrally between the opposite sides thereof, material engaging means adjacent said rod for engaging and maintaining said fringe or ruiile in stretched position, and removable material engaging means for the upper and lower edges of said curtains adjacent said hem.

8. Stretching apparatus of the character dem scribed, comprising a two-faced frame mounted with its faces in vertical planes, relatively adjustable horizontal and vertical stretching bars on the two faces of the frame, return bend members along one vertical edge of said frame, curved stretcher extensions carried by the adjustable horizontal bars and extending beyond and around the return bend members, and a vertically extending hem bar located outwardly beyond said extensions and carried by the frame.

9. Stretching apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-faced frame mounted with its faces in Vertical planes, relatively adjustable horizontal and vertical stretching bars on the two faces of the frame, return bend members along one vertical edge of said frame, curved stretcher extensions carried by the adjustable horizontal bars and extending beyond and around the return bend members, and a vertically extending ruffle supporting bar located outwardly beyond said extensions and carried by said frame and provided with ruie attaching means.

l0. Stretching apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-faced frame mounted with its faces in vertical planes, relatively ad- 

